Apparatus for preparing tobacco leaves



Nov. 5, 1968 A. MENGUY APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TOBACCO LEAVES 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1967 y WkuWW WMMWWWWHNWWH oeooooo0 iiii S.N van-0R A\2m Hangar Em L :Sgarww QJAASPQN'OJ ATvom Ew A. MENGUYAPPARATUS FOR PREPARING TOBACCO LEAVES Nov. 5,

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 30, 1967 lid ATT RWE Y5 Nov. 5, 1968 A.MENGUY APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed Oct. 30, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 5 26 P5 iii-iii- TNV E TOR A\a\'n Hemguy B a COM) inA ATTRNEYS Nov. 5, 1968 A. MENGUY 9,

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed Oct. 30, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 4 fi anow an) eanw AT'Y oiweys Nov. 5, 1968 A. MENGUY3,409,024

I APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed Oct. 50, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 5 mm :CNvewvoR Q u lua en a l9 x B g 7 22 swrrou an;fiayrou ATT Pmeyg United States Patent Ofice 3,409,024 APPARATUS FORPREPARING TOBACCO LEAVES Alain Menguy, 7 Rue de la Krutenav, 67Strasbourg, France Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 412,351,

Nov. 19, 1964. This application Oct. 30, 1967, Ser.

Claims priority, application France, Nov. 20, 1963, 954,417; Feb. 14,1964, 962,640 14 Claims. (Cl. 131123) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amachine for forming strips from tobacco leaves for Wrapping of cigars byspreading the leaves, cutting the mid-rib out, splitting the parenchymaof the leaves into adequate strips, scanning the strip for faulty spotsand gluing the ends of the strips into one another, measuring the properlength of the strips and cutting them into sections.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applica tion Ser. No.412,351, filed Nov. 19, 1964 and now abandoned.

It is known to produce a continuous strip by mechanical means startingfrom fragments of tobacco leaves which are applied behind each other soas to form a small overlap at each joint. Such an overlap, which must bearranged by hand, is liable to be too wide. The overlap is in any casetoo wide if the starting material employed consists of half-leaves whichhave extended points. If the leaves have previously been trimmed, therate of utilization is excessive.

Furthermore, tobacco leaves which may even be of good quality sometimeshave tears or holes which reduce their value. A continuous strip whichis formed by known methods cannot be processed mechanically as it standsif it is either torn or lacerated. An additional operation is thereforenecessary in order to cut and re-form the continuous strip, with thesubstantial overlap which this entails.

In order to dispense with the need for manual operations or unnecessarydevices of a special nature, it is a primary object of this invention tocut the outspread parenchyma of each half-leaf on each side of themidrib into a plurality of longitudinal strips which are parallel tosaid midrib and have a width which is just sufficient for the purpose ofwrapping a cigar and which is therefore small, then to cut each striptransversely on the one hand at the beginning and end of the leaf and,on the other hand, before and after each hole or tear of the leaf inorder to obtain sections which are subsequently cut transversely to therequisite length so as to form a cigar wrapping, the sections ofinsufficient length being joined by means of a small overlap to thefollowing section of the same strip so as to give the new section alength which is at least equal to the requisite length.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine which isdesigned for the automatic operation of the method referred to above andwhich essentially comprises means for carrying the midrib and means forspreading out the parenchyma of each leaf, means for receiving andconveying the outspread leaves, means for longitudinal cutting of theoutspread leaves into strips, means for detecting holes or absences ofparenchyma, means for measuring the length of strips, means fortransverse cutting of each strip into sections and controlled by saiddetection means and by said measuring means, and means for joiningsections of insufficient length so as to re-form sections of sufiicientlength.

The means for carrying the midrib can consist of an endless belt againstwhich the midrib is applied under 3,409,024 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 theaction of a pressure exerted, for example, by mechanical members such asspring-loaded push-plates.

The means for spreading out the parenchyma can consist of a box withwalls located at a small distance away from each other, between whichthe leaf is intended to pass and in which a partial vacuum ismaintained, said walls being pierced with holes for the admission of airwhich have a fairly large area in the vicinity of the axis ofdisplacement of the midrib and a smaller area starting from a certaindistance away from said axis, said holes being preferably distributedover a surface having substantially the shape of a triangle, the apex ofwhich is directed towards the admission opening.

The means for receiving and conveying outspread leaves can consist of amovable supporting member such as a rotary drum which is pierced overits entire supporting surface with uniformly spaced holes arranged inlines which are set at a uniform distance apart, suction means beingprovided for the purpose of maintaining the outspread leaf against saidsurface as it is delivered from the spreading out means.

The longitudinal cutting means can consist of series of cutters such ascircular cutters, for example, which are so arranged as to be appliedagainst the supporting member or perforated drum and to cut thereofparallel strips which may or may not be of equal width on each side ofthe midrib. The midrib which is cut out of the parenchyma can bewithdrawn from the action of the perforated drum immediately oncompletion of the cutting operation by virtue of a means such as ascraper. The longitudinal cutting means divide the surface whichsupports the outspread leaf into track which each correspond to a cutstrip.

In the case of the perforated drum, the holes of which are arranged inrows parallel to the axis of said drum, the means for measuring thelengths of strips which pass along each track of the drum afterlongitudinal cutting can comprise a disc which is adapted to rotate atthe same angular speed as the drum and on the periphery of which areformed a number of notches equal to the number of rows of holes formedin said drum, a light source and a photoelectric cell located on eachside of said disc at the level of the notches thereof, and means forcounting rhythmical pulses which are emitted by said photoelectric celland the value of which in units of time corresponds to the time-durationof the sweeping by stationary detection means of the surface which iscomprised between two rows of perforations of the drum which areparallel to the axis of said drum.

The means for detecting the absence of tobacco and re-appearance oftobacco on each track of the drum or like supporting means can comprisein the case of each track a rotating mirror illuminated by a parallelbeam of light which sweeps the width of each track, and a photoelectriccell energized by the rays which are derived from said mirror butreflected from the supporting surface, and electric means designed toreceive the pulses emitted by said photoelectric cell when this latteris energized, that is to say when no tobacco is present on thesupporting surface.

The means for eifecting the transverse cutting of the strips of eachtrack can consist of cutting members such as rotary cutters with helicalcutting edges having a width equal to that of the corresponding trackand so arranged as to cut the strips while being brought into contactwith the strip supporting member in a line which is inclined withrespect to the central plane of the drum, that is to say with respect tothe midrib of the leaf, for example a line which is parallel to thelateral nerves or which corresponds to the line of slope of the outeredge of the leaf at the point considered.

The means for joining those sections of strips which are of insuificientlength and for reconstituting sections of sufiicient length can consistof conveyor belts corresponding in number to the number of tracks of themember which supports the cut strips, said conveyor belts being designedby incorporation of suction means, for example, to withdraw sections ofinsufficient length which have been cut on the aforesaid supportingmember or drum as soon as said sections are released for example bymeans of an obturating shell if the retaining means are suction means,said conveyor belts being provided with disengageable drive meanscontrolled as a function of the time which has elapsed between thetransverse cutting operations before and after a zone in which notobacco is present, in such manner that the gummed end of acomplementary strip section covers and is applied under the action of apressure finger, for example, against the end of the preceding section.

The control system of the machine, when it is of electronic design, cancomprise a logic circuit which essentially consists of two pulsecounters and two AND gates controlled by a bistable device and arrangedon the one hand so as to cancel the counting of pulses for measuringstrip lengths each time the count reaches a value corresponding to thelength of strip which is required for the wrapping of a cigar and, onthe other hand, so as to deflect said measuring pulses from the counteras soon as the absence of tobacco is detected, one or a number of pulsescorresponding to the length of overlap which is necessary for thesections to be joined being also deflected from the counting means afterreappearance of the tobacco.

A storage system of the magnetic or mechanical type, for example of thetype comprising studded discs with two positions can be employed for thepurpose of recording the pulses which are supplied when the tobacco ispresent and for the purpose of controlling on the one hand the gummingof the overlapping ends of complementary strip sections and, on theother hand, the means for joining sections of insufficient length andre-forming sections of sufiicient length such as, for example, conveyorbelts which take the sections from the drum or like support on whichsaid sections are cut out.

The transverse cutting means are designed in this case to come intooperation at each pulse-deflection and on completion of the countingwhich corresponds to the desired strip.

One example of construction of the machine in accord ance with theinvention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings which aregiven solely by way of example and not in any limiting sense, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the means for transferring and spreading theleaf;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section on a larger scale of the device forpressing the midrib of the leaf as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in cross-section of the complete machine;

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of the rear of the machine which shows thedrum for the preparation of sections and for detecting the absence oftobacco;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cutting devices with helical cutting edges;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the machine showing the drum and individualconveyor belts;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of the electromechanical storagesystem;

FIG. 8 is a general arrangement diagram of the electronic device forcounting, cutting control and stopping of individual conveyor belts;

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the drive of the mirrors, shown inperspective, partly broken away;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detailed view of the arrangement of the scanningdevices shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail view of the cutters and the shaftsthereof, as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a detail sectional view along line XII-XII of FIG. 14 of thescanning device in the mechanical storage system shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a detail view of the gumming finger shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of one of the mechanical storage discsshown in FIG. 7, partly broken away.

In the example which is illustrated, the machine comprises a relativelyflat box 1 (as shown in FIG. 1) which communicates with areduced-pressure source through a conduit 2 and which is divided acrossthe width thereof into two equal parts between which is adapted totravel an endless chain 3. There is mounted on each link of the chain 3a small plate 4 in which is formed a roundbottomed groove. The assemblyof plates 4 thus constitutes a continuous strip provided with an axialgroove. Within the space which is delimited by the two parts of the box1, there is mounted a pressing device 5 which is provided with rollers 6acted upon by springs 7 which exerts pressure on the plates 4 throughoutthe length of the box 1.

The top and bottom faces of the box 1 are pierced with holes which areof relatively substantial area along the device 5 and the chain 3 andwhich have a smaller area over that portion of surface which issubstantially located between the device 5 and the diagonal line of thehalf-boxes 1 and 1" in such a manner that the summits of the triangleswhich are thus formed are directed towards the upstream end. Twohalf-casings 8' and 8" having a rounded section are placed in front ofthe box on each side of the chain.

There is mounted above the endless chain 3 a hollow drum 9 (as shown inFIGS. 3, 4 and 6), the interior of which is connected to areduced-pressure source by means of an axial conduit 51. The side wallof said drum is pierced with a series of uniformly spaced holes 52approximately 5 mm. in diameter, said holes being relatively displacedfrom one line to another. Said drum can be driven in rotation in thedirection of the arrow (as shown in FIG. 3) and a stationary shell 10 ismounted in the interior of said drum in such manner as to close off theholes 52 which pass directly above the shell.

There are mounted opposite the drum 9 and parallel to a generator-lineof said drum a series of eight circular cutters 12 having an adjustablespacing (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) and continuously applied against thedrum 9 with their cutting edges at right angles to the generator-line ofsaid drum. The cutting edges pass between the perforations 52 anddelimit on each side of the central plane of the drum corresponding tothe midrib of the tobacco leaf three tracks which correspond to thestrips of tobacco to be cut out in said leaf. There are then disposed inthe axes of the six tracks thus formed, and also in parallel relationwith the generatrices of the drum, first of all a series of six rotatingmirrors 15 which are adapted to cooperate with six photo-electric cells14, then six cutters 16 with helical cutting edges (as shown in FIGS. 4and 5) and six gumming devices 31 (as shown in FIG. 3). A scraper 13 ismounted in the central plane downstream of the cutters 12.

Mirrors 15 rotate about a vertical, geometric, fixed axis, embodied by ashaft (FIG. 9); shafts 115 are driven in alternating directions of asmall amplitude by small gears 116 meshing with a horizontal rack 117which is moved back and forth by conventional means, not shown in thedrawing and not a subject of the invention.

The mirrors 15 sweep transversely at high speed each of the tracksassigned thereto and each photoelectric cell 14 is mounted in oppositethe corresponding mirror 15 in such a manner as to be energized by thelight rays which are reflected from the metallic surface of the drum 9.

A light source 121 (FIG. which is located in the direction of shaft 115of mirror 15, corresponds to this mirror. The photo-electric cell 14 isarranged in such manner as to receive the bundle of light rays which isreflected by drum 9 in the zone of scanning the tobacco strips; in otherwords, the axis 122 of cell 14 is symmetrical of the reflected lightbeam 123 with respect to a radial line drawn through the scanned pointon drum 9. Each photoelectric cell 14 is connected to a photodiode 17(as shown in FIG. 7). The cutters 16 are mounted on shafts 18 (as shownin FIG. 5) which are controlled, for example, by solenoids 118 in suchmanner as to apply each cutter at the appropriate moment against thedrum 9. To that extent shafts 18 are slidably arranged in fixed supports120 (FIG. 11). Each shaft 18 is aligned with the coil of double-actingsolenoid 118 and is attached by means of the threaded end thereof and anut and counternut to a stirrup 119 which forms part of the soft ironcore of the solenoid. Thus, a cutter 16 can be forwarded to the surfaceof drum 9 and retracted therefrom very rapidly. The helical angle ofeach cutting edge of the cutters is so determined that the pressure withwhich said cutters are applied against the drum 9 produces a line havingthe desired angle of inclination. Each of the cutters 16 is adapted torotate about an axis which is parallel to the generator-line of the drum9. Said cutters are set in staggered arrangement on two generatrices ofdrum 9 and can each comprise four helical cutting edges and, in such acase, are designed to rotate through one quarter of a revolution eachtime they are applied against the drum 9. The movement of rotation ofthe cutters 16 can be free and result solely from their contact with thedrum 9 under the action of solenoids 118.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drum 9 is provided with small perforations whichare uniformly distributed with a spacing of the order of one halfcentimeter. The arrangement of the cutters 12 and 16 is such that thecutting edges thereof pass between the perforations of the drum 9.

There are mounted above the drum 9 six horizontal conveyor belts 25,each of which corresponds to one of the tracks delimited by the cutters12 (as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). Said conveyor-belts pass on the onehand over rollers 27 which are mounted to rotate freely on a same shaft28 placed in parallel relation with a generatrix of the drum 9 and, onthe other hand, over pairs of rollers carried by parallel shafts 29which are continuously driven in rotation and which are additionallyprovided with clutch-coupling and braking units where by the movement ofeach of said conveyor-belts 25 can be separately controlled.Clutch-coupling and braking units 30 consist of electromagnetic engagingand electric braking parts which are coaxial with shafts 29 and arekeyed thereon. They are controlled by the storage system constituted bydiscs 19 in such manner that one is excited while another is released,or vice-versa, by the electric current passing through reversing relays.Said conveyorbelts are provided with perforations and a reducedpressuresystem which is designed to operate between the top and bottom runs ofsaid conveyor-belts, said reducedpressure system being made up of acasing which is delimited by a partition 11 and which is connected to avacuum source through the conduit 26. The shaft 28 is located at asuitable distance away from the drum 9 depending on the suction powerexerted through the perforations of the conveyor-belts 25 in the zonewhich is delimited by the partition 11, the length of which is differentin the case of each conveyor-belt.

The sucking action which is produced through the conduit 26 and throughthe perforations of the conveyor-belts 25 is limited to the shadedportion shown in FIG. 3 and a pressure finger 32 is intended to applythe corresponding point of each conveyor-belt 25 against the drum 9.Each finger 32 rotates about a fixed shaft and is displaced against abelt 25 by the action of a small solenoid (not shown in the drawing) andis retracted to its rest position by a spring (not shown in thedrawing). In the active position it is pushed strongly against the innersurface of belt 25. This, in turn, is slightly deformed by virtue of itselasticity and thus establishes the contact between two strips oftobacco.

As shown in FIG. 7, there are keyed on the same shaft 35 on the one handsix discs 19 each corresponding to one of the tracks of the drum 9 andeach provided with small studs 21 corresponding in number of lines ofperforations 52 of the drum 9 and, on the other hand, a notched disc 20,the number of notches of said disc being also such as to correspond tothe number of lines of holes 52. The studs 31 are capable of taking uptwo positions, namely a bottom position or rest position and a topposition or storage position. Said studs are controlled by means ofguide-rails 22 for the purpose of lifting said studs to the toppositions thereof and by means of guiderails 23 for returning said studsto the bottom positions thereof, said guide-rails 22 and 23 being inturn actuated by solenoids, as will be explained hereinafter. When theyare located in the storage position, the studs 21 actuate the clutchunit 30 of the conveyor 25 which corresponds to the discs 19 whichcarries said studs so as to make said conveyor fast for rotation withthe shaft 29 and, in consequence, to set said conveyor in motion. As ithas been explained above, the reading of the memory device whichconsists of the discs 19 and of the studs 21 can be etfectuated eitheroptically or by direct contact. For the optical reading a device may beused which is composed of a commercially obtainable photo-electricprojector cell of U-shape (131 in FIG. 12) where the studs 21 passbetween the branches according to the movement of the disc 19. Upon theinstant following the passing of a notch of the disc 19 in front of thephotodiode 17, a stud 21 passes either in the depressed or liftedcondition between the projector 132 and the cell 138, and the lattergives either a signal of missing or present tobacco at its area. Readingties (basically three) are also provided for each disc 19 which areneeded for signals at various times.

A light source 24 and a photodiode 17 are mounted on each side of thedisc 20 opposite the notches of said disc.

The angular speed of rotation of the shaft 35 which carries the discs 19forming a storage system and the disc 20 is equal to that of the drum 9,in such manner that each stud 21 and each notch of the disc 20correspond to one row of perforations 52 of said drum 9.

The combined assembly of rotating mirrors 15 form together with thephotoelectric cells 14 a system for detecting the presence of tobacco oneach track of the drum 9. The light beam which is reflected by themirrors 15 forms a spot which sweeps the Zone to be observed. When notobacco is present, the light which is reflected from the metallicsurface of the drum is directed to the photoelectric cell 14 whichdelivers a signal indicating the absence of tobacco on the correspondingtrack.

The assembly which consists of the notched disc 20 of the light source24 and the photoelectric cell 17 constitutes a system for emittingsynchronization pulses, and each of the pulses emitted corresponds toone unit of length representing the length of tobacco between two rowsof perforations 52 of the drum 9, that is to say approximately 5millimeters.

The electronic circuit shown in FIG. 8 which makes use of the pulsessupplied from the photoelectric cell 14 via the line 14 and from thephotoelectric cell 17 via the line 17' comprises two AND gates 37 and 38which are controlled by a bistable multivibrator 39, the gate 37 beingalso controlled by the signal which indicates the absence of tobacco andwhich is derived from the photoelectric cell 14.

The pulses which pass through the gate 37 are recorded by a counter orso-called overlap counter 40, the output pulse of which via the OR gate41 trips the bistable device 39, thus opening the gate 38 and givingaccess to 7 the counter 42 which counts the length of the tobacco and isa set at a pre-determined value.

The absence of tobacco which is detected by the photoelectric cell 14again trips the bistable multivibrator 39.

The zero indication of the length counter 42 trips the bistable device39 as soon as the tobacco appears in the detection zone so as not tocount any overlap from the time of starting-up of the machine.

A timing device (not shown) serves to reset the counters 40 and 42 tozero at the time of starting-up of the machine. A reversing amplifier 45resets the system to zero when no no tobacco is present.

The tripping of the multivibrator 39 resets the counter 40 to zero. Theposition of the multivibrator 39 is recorded in the storage system. Theappearance of the zero in the length counter 42 is also recorded in asector of the storage system for the purpose of controlling the cuttingmembers 16. The storage circuit comprises amplifiers 43 and 44.

The reading of the storage system as performed either by optical meansor by contact makes it possible to position the logic elements whichwill permit the passage of synchronization pulses derived from thephotoelectric cell 17 towards the devices for controlling the operationsinvolving cutting, gumming, starting and stopping of the conveyors 25.

The above-mentioned devices are of conventional type comprising relaysor electronic logic elements (diodes, transistors, vacuum tubes whilethe counters can be either mechanical or electronic.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The tobacco leaves are laid one by one on the casing 8, the petiolesbeing placed foremost within the groove of the plates 4. The leaf whichis conveyed through the box 1 is maintained axially by the system ofpressure devices 5, 6 and 7 and is subjected to the progressive suctionof the perforation zones 50. The leaf which is thus maintained in theoutspread position is transferred as soon as it passes out of the box 1as a result of the suction of the drum 9 which is exerted at therequired moment by virtue of the position of the shell 10. The leafwhich is' perfectly laid along the axis of its midrib at right angles tothe generator-line of the cylinder can be cut out into strips on eachside of the midrib, said strips having widths such that, depending ontheir location in the leaf, they can be put to the most judicious useaccording to the species of leaves considered. To this end, the spacingbetween the circular cutters 12 is adjusted accordingly; similarly, thediflerent devices which are mounted and designed for subsequentoperations must have dimensions according to the widths of the trackswhich correspond to each strip of leaf. The scraper 13 removes themidrib after longitudinal cutting.

The detectors 15 sweep the surface of each leaf strip. The presence oftobacco on the drum 9 does not produce any action of the photoelectriccells 14 and the rhythmical pulses which are delivered to the photodiode17 from the light source 24 mark one unit on the electronic counter 42at each passage of one perforation of the drum 9 to which therecorresponds the passage of a notch through the photodiode 17. Oncompletion of the counting operation which corresponds to the numberindicated by the counter 42 which in turn corresponds to a sufficientlength of section, the counter is reset to zero and initiates thecutting of the leaf strip at the required place by means of the cutters16. The individual conveyor 25 of the track considered continues to moveforward and withdraws by suction the section of suflicient length whichhas thus been cut out. In this case also, the suction of the drum 9 isstopped at the required moment as a result of the position of the shell10.

The appearance of a hole in the surface of a leaf strip produces, bymeans of the rays which are reflected from the corresponding rotatingmirror 15 and derived from the metallic surface of the drum 9, theenergization of the photoelectric cell 14 which is associated with saidmirror, thereby deflecting the rhythmical pulse of the photodiode 17from the electronic counter 42.

The deflection of the pulse produces by means of an electromagnet (whichhas not been shown in the drawings) the application of thetransverse-cutting cutter 16 which is assigned to that track in whichthe absence of tobacco has been detected on the leaf strip, immediatelybefore the hole.

As soon as the pulSe has been deflected as a result of the absence oftobacco, the guide-rail 23 has the effect of placing in the low positionthe number of studs 21 which corresponds to the number of perforationswhich have been moved past in front of the photoelectric cell 14 whichhas remained energized. The guide rail 22 is stationary and lifts studs21 by their enlarged end. Studs 21 are located in the positions seen inFIG. 14.

The reappearance of tobacco on the track which is being scanned againinitiates the transverse cutting of the strip at the requisite moment inorder that the cutting operation should be performed after a hole. Thereappearance of tobacco also initiates the gumming by means of thedevice 31 at the beginning of the strip which has been out after a holeand also produces the action of the pressing finger 32 at the requisitemoment. The operation of the reappearance of tobacco may be explained asfollows: The reading head 131a (FIG. 14) which is arranged for operatingthe transverse cutting of the strip, is wired in an electric circuit ofthe well-known balance type which is sensitive to the change of thenature of the received signals. This circuit operates a knife 16' forthe transverse cut when the reading head 131a signals the passing of thefull tobacco state to the missing state as well as in the reverse order.A very short time delay prevents the circuit from swinging back whenonly one signal missing has been given by 131a corresponding to a singlestud 21, which is the case when the end of a single stud 21, which isthe case when the end of a sufficient length of the strip has beenmarked.

The gumming is controlled by a second reading head 131k which is placedafter the head 131a in the direction of the rotation of the discs 19.The head 131b is wired to an electric relay which actuates the gummingdevice at every change of full tobacco state to the missing states,except in case when the length counter 42 is at zero which indicates thestart of a new strip.

The gumming device for every tobacco lane comprises an applicator finger31 (FIG. 3) and of an electromagnetic or electropneumatic operatingmechanism. As it may be seen in FIG. 13, the applicator fingers arepivotal- 1y mounted on a common shaft 151 and are pulled back by tensionsprings 152. Solenoids 153, energized by the reading heads 1310 (FIG.14), as described above, kick the corresponding finger 31 downward whena gumming signal is given (in response to a reading of a disc 19 and ofthe counter 42). The signal is transmitted by an ap propriate relaywhich interrupts the energizing current with the preset time delay. Thecorresponding spring 152 then pulls the finger 31 upwards. The feedingof the adhesive is accomplished by capillary along the shaft 154 of thefinger 31 from a common container 155. It is the front end of the strip,either after a hole or at the start of a new leaf, which is glued, whenthe counter 42 is not yet back to zero. By this manner the gluing of twostrip ends is automatically performed, when the rear end of a stripbefore a hole or the end of a leaf is pushed by the finger 32 across thebelt 25 toward the drum 9. The reappearance of tobacco controls at thedesired time the pressure finger 32 by the intermediary of reading head131c (FIG. 14) which also controls the brake coil 30 of one belt 25.However the corresponding relays of finger 32 will not be energizedunless the length counter 42 is not at the maximum (or at zero) andenergizes the solenoid of finger 32 for a relatively short time only(electric time relay). As it has been explained above the memory,

consisting of discs 19, permits to superimpose the end E of a strip,which is cut before a hole over the start L of the following strip.Since the end B covers the perforations of the belt at this instant, itcould not assure the pick-up of the start L if there would not be apressure finger 32 or an equivalent device. As it will be describedlater, the action of the finger 32 brings the two parts of the leafstrip into contact with one another and thus provides a strong bonding.

The return of the circuit of pulses derived from the photodiode 17towards the electronic counter 42 for the purpose of continuing thecounting process does not immediately take place at the moment when thetobacco reappears on the track which is being scanned. In fact, thecounter 40 delays by one, two or three pulses the return to the counter42 so that the desired overlap can thus be formed between the twosections created before and after the hole by the double cuttingoperation, over a length which is equal to the distance between one, twoor three perforations in the drum 9. The action of the guide-rail 22 onthe studs 21 which form part of the corresponding disc 19 of the storagedevice is continued at a rate of one stud for each pulse during whichthe return to the counter 42 is delayed.

The number of studs located in the low position causes the correspondingindividual conveyors 25 to come to a stop by means of suitable electriccontacts which are part of the relays operated by the head 131c and bymeans of the clutch-coupling and braking units which control saidconveyors. The stopping time corresponds to the movement of rotation ofthe drum 9 between the transverse cutting operations and is increased bythe time taken by one, two or three perforations to pass in front of thephotoelectric cell 14. In this manner, the strip end which is cut beforea hole is held motionless on the conveyors 25 until the moment when thebegining of the following strip has passed by a length measured betweenone, two or three perforations beyond that point of the drum 9 at whichthe suction is cut off by the shell 10. T hereupon, the re-starting ofthe movement of the individual conveyor 25 reinitiates the suction whichis derived from said conveyor and which was previously interrupted bythe leaf strip which closed off its perforations. As soon as the cells14 receive light impulses from mirrors 15 indicating that the tobaccodoes not entirely cover the scanned area of drum 9, the emitted signalcorresponds to a missing tobacco. Thus the studs 21 which correspond tothe center line of the scanned circle are pushed down. The reading bead131a, as it has been explained above, actuates the knife 16 of thetransversal cut at every extended change of state (more than one stud21) of the surface condition of disc 19. Thus there are no irregularborders possible. The triangle-shaped outer parts which are cut off onthe sides of the leaves are sucked off in the same manner as it has beenexplained for parts with holes. The action of the pressing finger 32brings into contact those portions of the leaf strip which are intendedto overlap.

The fragments of leaf which surround a hole are not thenceforth drawn bysuction against the conveyors 25 but are carried away by the drum 9 andcan be recovered for other purposes.

The guide rail 22 thrusts back the studs 21 towards the top positionsthereof after they have supplied the information stored by said studs.Guide-rails 23 operate in the same manner as the knives 16 which areattached to shafts 18 (see FIG. 11) with the difference that the knives16 are replaced with cylindrical rollers of a small diameter. Thus, itis possible to operate a desired number of studs by two electricimpulses opposite one another, when a hole in the tobacco occurs or whena signal of the end of a strip is given by counter 42.

The wrapper-leaves are taken from the conveyors 25 by means of suckers(not shown) which are applied in positions defined by the lengths of thewrappers. Movable flaps 36 located in the suction conduit interrupt thesuction of the wrapper at the moment when this latter is withdrawn bythe sucker. The movable flaps 36 serve the purpose of cutting thesuction of the partitions during the pick-up of astrip by transfer ventlines (not shown). They are operated by thevent system itself which doesnot belong to the machine, by the conventional systems of levers whichare set in motion by the rear portion of one of the alternative coursesof the vent system. This could be the vertically descending course ofthe vent which lifts a closing flap 36 parallel to itself; it also couldbe the horizontal movement of the support arm of the vent which causes asliding of flap 36, operated like a drawer for closing the suction slotsof the partition which normally communicate with the perforations of thebelt 25. In both cases an electrical blocking action exists which guardsthe movement of the vent at the stopping of the conveyor; the flaps 36return to their position of rest by the action of spiral springs.

The suckers referred to then move towards mechanical wrapping devices ofconventional type.

A conveyor 25 can thus supply a number of suckers.

The modules of cigar wrappers which are cut to shape on each track canbe different in such manner as to ensure a good utilization of thetobacco.

What I claim is: a

1. The machine for automatically forming strips from tobacco leaves forwrapping cigars comprising means for carrying the midrib and means forspreading out the parenchyma of each leaf, means for receiving andconveying the outspread leaves, means for longitudinal cutting of theout-spread leaves into strips, means for detecting holes or absences ofparaenchyma, means for measuring the length of strips, means fortransverse cutting of each strip into sections, said cutting means beingcontrolled by said detection means and by said measuring means, andmeans for joining sections of insufiicient length so as to re-formsections of suflicient length.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which the means for carrying the midribconsists of an endless belt against which the midrib is pressed underthe action of springloaded push-plates.

3. The machine of claim 1 in which the means for spreading out theparenchyma consist of a box with walls located at a small distance awayfrom each other, between which the leaf is intended to pass and in whicha partial vacuum is maintained, said walls being pierced with holes forthe admission of air which have a fairly large area in the vicinity ofthe axis of displacement of the midrib and a smaller area starting froma certain distance away from said axis.

4. The machine of claim 1 in which the means for receiving and conveyingoutspread leaves consist of a movable supporting member pierced over itsentire supporting surface with uniformly spaced holes arranged in rowsparallel to the axis of said drum and set at a uniform distance apart,suction means being provided for the purpose of maintaining theoutspread leaf against said surface as it is delivered from thespreading-out means.

5. The machine of claim 1 in which the longitudinal cutting meansconsist of series of cutters adapted to be applied against the means forreceiving and conveying the outspread leaves and to cut parallel stripsthereon.

6. The machine of claim 1 in which the means for detecting the absenceof tobacco and re-appearance of tobacco on the means for receiving andconveying the outspread leaves comprise a plurality of rotating mirrorsilluminated by a parallel beam of light for sweeping the width of eachstrip, and photoelectric cells energized by the rays which are receivedfrom said mirrors but reflected from said receiving and conveying means,and electric means designed to receive the pulses emitted by saidphotoelectric cells when the latter are energized, that is to say whenno tobacco is present on the corresponding strips.

7. The machine of claim 1 in which the means for effecting thetransverse cutting of the different strips'consist of rotary cutterswith helical cutting edges having a Width equal to that of thecorresponding strips and so arranged as to cut said strips while beingbrought into contact therewith in a line which is inclined with respectto the midrib of the leaf.

8. The machine of claim 1 in which the means for joining those sectionsof strips which'are of insufficient length and for reconstitutingsections of sufficient length comprised of conveyor belts correspondingin number to the number of cut strips, said conveyor belts being adapted-to withdraw sections of insuflicient length which have been cut as soonas said sections are released, said conveyor belts being provided withdisengageable drive means controlled as a function of the time which haselapsed between the transverse cutting operations before and after azone in which no tobacco is present.

9. The machine of claim 1 which further comprises an electronic controlcircuit consisting of two pulse counters and two AND gates controlled bya bistable multivibrator and arranged on the one hand so as to cancelthe counting of pulses for measuring strip lengths each time the countreaches a value corresponding to the length of strip which is requiredfor the wrapping of a cigar and, on the other hand, so as to deflectsaid measursary for the sections to be joined being also reflected fromthe counting means after re-appearance of the tobacco.

10. The machine of claim 9 further comprising a storage systemconsisting of studded discs with two positions for recording the pulsessupplied when the tobacco is present and for controlling the joining ofthe overlapping ends of complementary strip sections and the means forjoining sections of insufiicient length and re-forming sections ofsufficient length.

11. The machine of claim 10 in which the transverse cutting means aredesigned to come into operation at each pulse-deflection and oncompletion of the counting which corresponds to the desired strip.

12. The machine for automatically forming strips from tobacco leaves forwrapping cigars comprising conveyor means for carrying the midrib andsuction means for spreading-out the parenchyma of each leaf, a rotatabledrum for receiving, supporting and conveying said outspread leaves, saiddrum being pierced over its entire supporting surface with uniformlyspaced holes arranged in rows parallel to the axis of said drum and setat a uniform distance apart, suction means being provided for thepurpose of maintaining the outspread leaf against said surface as it isdelivered from the spreading-out means, circular cutters adapted to beapplied against parallel tracks of said perforated drum and to cutthereon parallel strips each corresponding to one of said tracks, a discadapted to rotate at the same angular speed as the drum and on theperiphery of which are formed a number of notches equal to the number ofrows of holes formed in said drum, a light source and a photoelectriccell 10- cated on each side of said disc at the level of the notchesthereof, and means for counting rhythmical pulses which are emitted bysaid photoelectric cell and the value of which in units of timecorresponds to the time-duration of the sweeping by stationary detectionmeans of the surface which is comprised between two rows of perforationsof the drum which are parallel to the axis of said drum, rotatingmirrors illuminated by a parallel beam of light for sweeping the widthof each track, and photoelectric cells energized by the rays which arederived from said mirrors but reflected from said drum and electricmeans designed to receive the pulses emitted by said photoelectric cellswhen the latter are energized, that is to say when no tobacco is presenton said drum, rotary cutters with helical cutting edges having a widthequal to that of the corresponding track and so arranged as to cut saidstrips while being brought into contact with said drum in a line whichis inclined with respect to the central plane of said drum, a pluralityof conveyor belts corresponding in number to the number of said tracks,said conveyor belts being adapted to withdraw sections of insufiicientlength which have been cut on said drum as soon as said sections arereleased from said drum, said conveyor belts being provided withdisengageable drive means controlled as a function of the time which haselapsed between the transverse cutting operations before and after azone in which no tobacco is present, and means for automaticallycontrolling said drive means.

13. The machine of claim 12 in which said controlling means areelectronic control means consisting of two pulse counters and two ANDgates controlled by a bistable multivibrator and arranged on the onehand so as to cancel the counting of pulses for measuring strip lengthseach time the count reaches a value corresponding to the length of stripwhich is required for the wrapping of a cigar and, on the other hand, soas to deflect said measuring pulses from the counter as soon as theabsence of tobacco is detected, a certain number of pulses correspondingto the length of overlap which is necessary for the sections to bejoined being also deflected from the counting means after re-appearanceof the tobacco.

14. The machine of claim 13 further comprising a storage systemconsisting of studded discs with two positions for recording the pulsessupplied when the tobacco is present and for controlling the joining ofthe overlapping ends of complementary strip sections and the means forjoining sections of insufficient length and reforming sections ofsufficient length, and the transverse cutting means are designed to comeinto operation at each pulsedefiection and on completion of the countingwhich corresponds to the desired strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,951 8/1976 Smothers 131-1131,864,765 6/1932 Rundell et al. 131123 2,617,483 11/1952 Porter l3121 X2,953,135 9/1960 Anderson l31--21 FOREIGN PATENTS 595,005 3/ 1934Germany.

673,047 3/1939 Germany.

282,364 3/1928 Great Britain.

331,333 7/1930 Great Britain.

ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner.

